What to take in college? Go to college?

[Hipnotic_Tranz]

Well, I'm a senior and don't really know where I wanna go. I like networking and all, so I figure I'll go somewhere in that field. I currently hold a job for the school township. It's like an internship but I don't really learn anything so I'm more or less their bitch.

I've been looking at college classes and it doesn't really look like they have any degree for somethin' like this. There is CS whicih is all problem solving, math, & programming. Don't enjoy any of that. Then there is CIS but thats more of a business degree so I don't know if that would help me. There are tons of other colleges that offer prep courses for certifications and all but I figure I could learn most of that stuff on my own & much cheaper.

So what other things can I get that'll really help? At this point it looks like certs & experience weights heavier than a college degree. I dunno, I guess I'm kinda depressesd since I got turned down from IU, which doesn't have high standards <img src=http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hipnotic_ ... es/sad.gif> I guess I'm just curious on what options I have. I'd like to continue working at my current job while going to night-classes or something, that way I can make tons of money (since I'd still be living at home and not having to pay any bills) and hopefully get a better job & move out in a couple years.

[TheManiacal1]

just north from ya, i go to Purdue's Calumet campus. up here they've got a few different CIS degrees (networking, web dev, systems analysis, etc.) in addition the traditional CS degree (through the engineering dept i believe). anyway, ChottoEd graduated from here last year. while he can't attest to have learning too much, at least you're getting an IT-specific degree from a major university (albeit a small campus). my personal recommendation if you've got some dough to drop or better yet if you can get a free ride is DePaul University in Chicago. their telecomm degree is supposed to be pretty good. there are networking-specific degrees they offer as well if that's your cup o' tea.

[honz]

I agree with maniac here. i tried a semester at a large University, and it seems they just take ur money and run, heh. theres so many extra Gen Ed courses, its ridiculous.

I'm currently at a small campus, and although this first quarter i knew pretty much everything, these next few look like they might throw some new stuff. Besides that, gotta have that damn paper, heh. As for night courses, online may be the best way to go. anyhow, GL man. =) keep us informed...

[Hipnotic_Tranz]

See, those are the type that seem like they'd suit me the best. I'd really rather not spend my first two years in college taking High School all over again. I'd rather just get to it, ya know. I guess I'll have to look around (though it's kinda late at this point--for the fall anyway) But thats no big deal. Its not like I'm in a rush or anything.

[Slugbait]

Ooooo...dude, you won't be taking high school "all over again".

I didn't study for more than an hour during my entire senior year in high school. Got a 3.8 and a 4.0 that year. Smoked quite a bit of bud that year, as I recall...

I didn't study for my SAT (I was rebelling against my dad at the time...he insisted I study). However, no problem getting acceptance to several Pac-10 universities based on my scores.

I didn't study much my first semester at WSU and got my ass kicked with a 2.2 GPA. But the grade point didn't reflect what I had actually learned...which was an awful lot. I learned more in my first year of college than four years of high school. You might say I was "enlightened". I just really sucked on the exams.

You need to realize that high school teaches you what the gov and conservative parents want you to learn. And they go really go easy on you. College teaches you the truth, cuz you pay thru the nose for knowledge, and they'll give it to you (well, some, anyway...). And it's accelerated. High school is sooooooo easy in comparison.

Plus, college teaches much more than just what you learn in "classes". You end up learning about people and society, just by being there. You learn from other very smart people your age, you make contacts, and you learn things that will actually ENHANCE what you want to learn...which helps you later in life.

And that's what employers look for when reviewing resumes. Tech-school applicants take a back-seat to the four-year kidz. Trust me on this one.

I thought my dad was full of shit when he tried to convince me of this. Now I praise him for forcing me to go to college.

His argument that finally convinced me to go: you have four more years of being a kid and party-til-you-puke. Otherwise, get a job and get out of his house.

I wish he were alive so I could thank him again.


















(barrrrfff....ehhh, some things never change...)

[Solstice]

I have to agree with Slugbait on this one. Having a degree, any degree, even if you never plan on using it, will help you all around. Many employers don't really care that your field of study doesn't match with the position for which you are applying. They only care that you have a higher education. The fact that you survived 4+ years of college says far more than, "I now know more about programming because I have my CS degree."

[renovation]

your really no different then anyone coming out of high school .
if worst came to worst .min is go to a local collage and then transfer !
take all the Prue rec.
my daughter wanted to be a business degree. her first year . now she is in her 2 year of doing a major for a high school counselor .and has been accepted in the education program at western michigan .and still has 2 more years of being in the program till she grads !
and a lot of her high school class mates that graduated with her still after 2 years of collage are not sure what they want to major in .
I'm 100% sure you will figure it out .but do go to collage and just take the basic .and it will come to you but get your feet wet !
your young and will find I'm sure collage is fun ,different ,and well effort !